Extreme multi-basin flooding linked with extra-tropical cyclones
Luca, Paolo De; Hillier, John K.; Wilby, Robert L.; Quinn, Nevil W.; Harrigan, Shaun. 2017 Extreme multi-basin flooding linked with extra-tropical cyclones. Environmental Research Letters, 12 (11), 114009. 12, pp. 10.1088/1748-9326/aa868e
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Abstract/Summary
Fluvial floods are typically investigated as ‘events’ at the single basin-scale, hence flood management authorities may underestimate the threat of flooding across multiple basins driven by large-scale and nearly concurrent atmospheric event(s). We pilot a national-scale statistical analysis of the spatio-temporal characteristics of extreme multi-basin flooding (MBF) episodes, using peak river flow data for 260 basins in Great Britain (1975−2014), a sentinel region for storms impacting northwest and central Europe. During the most widespread MBF episode, 108 basins ( 46% of the study area) recorded annual maximum (AMAX) discharge within a 16 day window. Such episodes are associated with persistent cyclonic and westerly atmospheric circulations, atmospheric rivers, and precipitation falling onto previously saturated ground, leading to hydrological response times <40 h and documented flood impacts. Furthermore, peak flows tend to occur after 0−13 days of very severe gales causing combined and spatially-distributed, yet differentially time-lagged, wind and flood damages. These findings have implications for emergency responders, insurers and contingency planners worldwide.
Item Type: | Publication - Article |
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1088/1748-9326/aa868e |
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: | Water Resources (Science Area 2017-) |
ISSN: | 1748-9326 |
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.: | Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link. |
Additional Keywords: | floods, multi-basin, flooding, extra-tropical cyclones, Great Britain, emergency management, interactions, natural hazards |
NORA Subject Terms: | Hydrology |
Date made live: | 07 Nov 2017 16:41 +0 (UTC) |
URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518307 |
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